BILLINGS, Mont. — Shelly Fyant, from Arlee, painted circles around the eyes of a horse named Big Medicine.
“The circle gives us a clear vision so we can see our enemy,” she said.
The enemy Fyant is talking about is methamphetamine, the Billings Gazette reported. She and a dozen others gathered at a horse barn west of Billings to learn about equine-assisted therapy and the role it can play in recovery. The event was held in conjunction with a meeting of the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leadership Council to address what is being called an epidemic of meth abuse on Montana’s reservations.
A warrior without a horse is at a disadvantage, said Gordon Birch, who led the training. Birch runs the Utah-based Pretty Shield Foundation and conducts equine-assisted therapy around the West.
“We are at war,” he said. “Many, many years ago when we went into battle, did we leave our war ponies behind?” he asked. “Today we have the opportunity to fight this battle with our horses, as one.”
Participants painted four horses —Big Medicine, Spirit, Paladin and Aria.
Bertie Brown, of Lame Deer, painted rectangular symbols on Big Medicine that represent calling for hail to fall on enemies.
The roads that cartels use to bring meth into Lame Deer are not maintained, she said, and rain will stop their travel.
Delia Morsette and Mike Geboe, of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, painted Spirit with their 9-year-old daughter, Faren Geboe. They used symbols from their Chippewa Cree tribe.
Mike Geboe painted a spiral with his left hand because warriors need to know how to use both hands. Faren painted a bison, her favorite animal.
